The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-05-13
HER WAY.
How Miss Deborah BiIher Responded
10 n Call for Charity.

81 don't see, for my part, why the Lord al
lowed such people to have the handling of
so much" said Mrs. Trewin, with a snap of
| her black eyes across the breakfast table sit 8
a great trial to my feelings"
"What?" asked the doctor, absently.
"Dr. Trewn," vociferat,d that lady, you
don't mean TO tell me that you haven't heard
a word of all Eve been sayingI"
| A little anxious smile fitted across the
doctors cOuntenance.
II think, my love, sail he, you were
speaking of Miss Deborah Biiher."
| Il should say was" responded his wife,
with n spice OF grim pleasantly in her tones.
II told you that when called on her yester-
day with subscription paper for the
Hewetts, who, if you will remember, were
burned out last month and are in very straiten-
ed circumstances, she refused to put her name
down for n cent. She's money enough to
buy out the whole of us, Daborah Bither has,
and no chick or child To take it when she's
gone. And | think it would stand her in
hand to make righteous disposal of some of
it while she can sho lldn't your
DR.. Trewin maintaineda discreet silence.
He swallowed his coffee and left the table;
and presently his wife viewed his departing
figure through the Gins as he took his way
towards the village office.
she had brought her work-basket to the
breezy keeping room window; abody never
can tell what he does or he doesn't think
But I'm sure he can but see that Deborah
Bthcr is the closrsl-iistcd old maid that ever
lived"
Her gaze wandered out through the win
dow, and up 10 the great red-brick house. on
the hill There were broad acres on all sides
oft, uplands aud orchards, jus, now giving
promise Of an abundai harvest. 1t was the
finest estate in the cour try and Miss De-
borah Bither was the mistress of it all.
"The earth is the Lords and the fullncss
thereof" murmured Mrs. Trcwn, breaking
her thread with jerk. Deborah Bither
ought to remember that ltgocs against my
grain to see anybody SO stingy."
She sewed steadily for an hour, and then
folding away her work, she put on her bon
net and shawl.
"pll go down and see how Mrs llewett is
getting on" she said. "She needs sympathy
and help, if ever anybody did"
She walked rapidly down the street until
she reached the little low house into which
the IIewetls had moved with the remnant of
their household goods that they had saved
from the lmes. Through an open window
sounded tic busy hum Of n sewing machine
which ceased as she entered the door, and
Mrs. Hewett came forward TO greet her.
And how are you getting ulong?" asked
Mrs. Trcwin, settling her porty form in Il
rocking chair
"Oh, nicely now, thank YOU was the quick
response.
you yesterday" continued Mrs. Trewin. Has
Deacon Gregory brought it in yet ~
Moo" hcsitated Mrs Hewett A look
in which perplexiIy and pain were mingled
crossed her face. II am sorry to have given
so much trouble; think we shall be able to
get along now. Oh, Mrs. Trewin," her voice
tremblcd beneath n weight OF tears, don't
think me ungrateful, but, indeed, II can
not bear to he bcggar"
"Tut, tutw exclaimed the doctors wife
ITO my mind it should be duty and privi-
lcge TO help a neghOcr who has been unfOr-
tn 1ate; and every body seems to feel it so,
except"-she stopped with II shrug, and
grim closeiug of her lips, thinking ofthe red
brick house on the hill, and of its owner.
81 am sure we shall get along now" reiter-
ated Mrs Hewett. hopefully, apparently
without noticing the break in her visitors
remark.
81 wish you may, truly" answered Mrs
Trewin. She looked an interrogation point
at the bright, new sewing machine by the
window, with the heap of unmade clothing
near it. Mrs Hcwett saw the glance, and
answered it with tears gathering in her eyes
"Oh, yes I've all the work l can do now
aud the machine is perfect god-send. I'm 10
pay for it when can"
"Why-what-wherc did you get IL ?"
asked Mrs. Trewin.
Let me tell YOU" the little woman smil-
ingly said. yesterday, only yesterday, it
seemed to me that must give up. rebeled, |
l,. q. I,
wnich | thought God had treated me aHd |
mine. AT this dark hour who should come
in but Miss Bither. She had just heard of
She stayed an hour or
more, and you can't think how she cheered |
me up. 1t was she who sent the machine
Mrs. Trewin and besides giving me all her
own sewing to do, she will get shop work |
for me from town She has given Johi
work on her farm for the summer; and we're |
all so happy, and relieved, and everything ! |
Oh, you won't think us ungrateful If we do |
not accept the-the subscription, if we can |
get along without it?' Here Mrs. Hewctt |
broke down entirely, her blue eyes swimming |
in tears.
Then the better quality of Mrs. Trewin's
heart came uppermost. She drew the little |
womans head down upon her broad breast
and soothed her as a mother might child
i We GOV DhCh dil my Iditii III Oou-duu
man" said Mrs. Hewett, smiling through her
tears, "and never mean to let go my hold on
it again."
"Amcu !" circulated Mrs. Trewin.
At the dinner table she related to the doc
tor the sum and substance of Mrs. Hewetts
recital.
81 am sorry misjudged Deborah and
intend to tell her So" said she. But she
might have said che meant to help them. And
why can't she do things like other people ?"
DR.. Trcwin pared potato in silence
81 suppose it's her way" continued his
wife, musingly.
"lts very good way" said the doctor.
Wetting Lead Pencils.